Monday, September 27, 2010

The motto of my absolute favorite food magazine is "special made simple" (I'm sure many of you immediately knew which one I meant XD). It's a wonderful approach to cooking, and I always look forward to new ways of applying it. But I also find the reverse mentality, "simple made special," equally if not more appealing. The perfect example of this can be found in my new favorite breakfast: Bruléed Oatmeal.

I happened upon this brilliantly easy method on the blog, à la mode*, while hunting for creative uses for my kitchen torch. Oddly enough, I'd bought one not to make classic creme brulée but to fulfill a cupcake vision. The idea to brulée breakfast has certainly breathed new life into my neglected tool. With just a few sprinklings of sugar and blasts of heat, I can regularly transform run-of-the-mill breakfasts into treats worth getting up for.Please do make sure you have enough gas in your torch. That way you'll get more drool-inducing results like this instead of the light browning in my photo.

For those of you who also own a kitchen torch, what uses have you found for it other than creme brulée?

XIAOLU'S NOTES: I actually doubled the recipe for the bowl of oatmeal in the photo, but the fruit doesn't keep well so I suggest you make only as much as you'll eat right away. Almost any fruit can be substituted here. Just don't expect the fruit to taste cooked, since the torch is really just there to caramelize the sugar into crunchy goodness! Please be careful not to overheat the edges of the bowl or bowl may crack, and be careful handling the bowl afterwards; it will be hot! Rick from à la mode* says that a torch works the best for this, but that about 20-30 seconds under the broiler should also work. If you try this, check first that your bowl is oven-safe.

I use my torch all the time, for pretty random stuff, actually. Sometimes I use it to do a quick defrost on popsicles that are stuck in their molds, or to warm up the bowl of my stand mixer if it looks like my butter cream is about to curdle. You never know how handy these things are until you have them to play with!

Creative idea! I've been wanting to invest in a torch but haven't yet mostly because I didn't know what else I could do with it besides creme brulee or maybe a toasted marshmallow frosting. This is definitely making me want one now!

Oh I love the look of this recipe! I first saw it on Chanel11's blog, and have been meaning to try it. Thanks for reminding me :)I have a torch but honestly never use it. The only ideas I have are for creme brulee and this lovely oatmeal twist :)Heidi xo

As a child, I did not like oatmeal. I've only 'discovered' this year. Your recipe sounds like it would be perfect for me :)I used to have a really cheap, bad torch, and just bought a new one recently. I use it for melting cheese sometimes. And for blackening the skins of peppers.

p.s. I just made Isapahan cupcakes...I used a different recipe but I have to thank you for your inspiration :)

Anncoo - That's what I loved about it :)Chanel11 - I can't believe I forgot you posted about it. It is so lovely, isn't it?Rosa - Glad you like it too!Shirley - Good, I love finding more uses for one-trick pony tools.Trissa - Wow thanks for several great ideas!Anh - Hehe looking at it now I already miss summer fruits.Joanne - I can just imagine what hilarious story you'll post once you do get one :).Jennifer - :) Danielle - OoO I really want to try baked alaska. Never eaten or made it before.elra - thx! means a lot coming from you who has such a beautiful blog =).warmvanillasugar - hope you like it when you make it!Michelle - congrats on getting a torch.claire - you're welcome :).Carolyn - me too ;).Prerna - it's a bit intimidating at first but then the pyromaniac takes over j/k.Eliana - thanks, girl!naomi - hahah, that's a good way to describe it.Hannah - What great, unexpected ideas. Thanks!smalltownoven - well you just listed 2 good uses in my opinion. I know you'll enjoy it whenever you do get it :).Faith - glad you've been convinced ;p. it's always a little exciting working with fire though you have to be careful.Jess - haha I'm sure there's something about that in the fire code...Heidi - mine was gathering dust, too, before I found some alternative uses.Michael - that sounds delicious. thanks!Chelle - hehe hope you do.Lorraine - oh no! sorry that happened and I hope the same doesn't happen to mine as it's not a heavy duty one.Sara - :).maameemoomoo - aw hope you get it soon!sohdalex - haha after this recipe I did start thinking about bruleeing things I never would have before. It's a brave new world!Laura - yes, the crunch does make things a lot more fun.tigerfish - hehe it's so easy you can have this too in just a few minutes.Indie.Tea - Congrats on the new torch and the cupcakes look amazing. I didn't dislike oatmeal as a kid but simply had no exposure to it. Then I too discovered it in college.Ardna - aw thank you! and yea you do need to be very very careful with fire.Robin - I know you'd do amazing things with a torch, as everything you make is so lovely :).Pepy - ^_^.

This is such a wonderful way to start the day - I'm making this soon, you bet!I have used my torch to make brulee tartlets and other stuff - actually, what a coincidence, I have posted a recipe that calls for a torch, caramelized tangerine slices from Gourmet Traveller.